Automatic Oxygen Titration With O2matic® to Patients Admitted With COVID-19 and Hypoxemic Respiratory Failure

Patients with coronavirus disease (COVID-19) and pneumonitis often have hypoxemic respiratory failure and a need of supplementary oxygen. Guidelines recommend controlled oxygen, for most patients with a recommended interval of SpO2 between 92 and 96 %. We aimed to determine if closed-loop control of oxygen was feasible in patients with COVID-19 and could maintain SpO2 in the specified interval. Patients were prospectively enrolled in an observational study on a medical ward dedicated to patients with COVID-19. Closed-loop controlled oxygen was delivered by O2matic® which can deliver 0-15 liters/min and adjusts flow every second based on 15 seconds averaging of SpO2 measured by pulse oximetry. Lung function parameters were measured at admission.